Economics and Finance Program

Program Overview

Recently, behavioral economists have begun taking seriously the premise that people care fundamentally not just about objective outcomes but about their beliefs. People cherish their beliefs, defend themselves from perceived challenges, and are often hostile to people who have other ideas. Such ‘belief-based utility’ can lead to camaraderie or conflict, information seeking or avoidance, uncertainty tolerance or aversion, and motivated reasoning or forgetting.

Economics majors have a diverse range of career opportunities available to them, including positions in securities firms, banks, foreign trade companies, financial editing, consulting, and more. Previous Alumni of the Economics and Finance Program have secured positions and acceptances to the following firms/programs:

• LinkedIn: Software Engineer Intern

• Goldman Sachs: Virtual Insight Series Participant

• Credit Suisse Steps to Success: Explore Program

• Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy - Research Assistant for Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance (YISF)

• University of Chicago - Pathways in Economics (Summer Program)

• Davidson College: Research Intern for Economics Professor

• Various Investment Banking Internships

These examples highlight the wide range of options that Eureka students have upon completion, allowing them to explore various industries and pursue careers in fields they are passionate about.

Eureka Alumni from this program have received admission offers to Princeton University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), University of Chicago, John Hopkins University (JHU), and other top US universities. Alumni from this program have gone off to pursue majors in Financial Economics, Computer Science, Political Science, and Applied Mathematics.

The research experience and skills students receive at the Eureka Program have helped students get accepted to programs such as the MIT - LaunchX Entrepreneurship Summer Program, The Wharton School - Leadership in the Business World, and other top summer programs.

Many students from this program are also very engaged in their communities, sharing in volunteering activities and starting non-profit organizations to help the community. During COVID-19, several students have started organizations to help obtain and distribute health supplies. Many alumni from this program have received top awards like Scholastic Art & Writing National Awards, S.T. Yau High School Science Awards, U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, and many others.

The below sections will provide more insight into the students that have attended this program and share their experiences and successes.

Research Topic Samples

The Dilemma of Coaches in the NBA: Playing Star or Average Players in Final Stages of a Game?

Team coaches face a tough decision during the final stages of a game: whether to play star or average players. Coaches often believe that star players should be brought in to ensure a win or turn the game around. However, this may lead to the opposing team's defense solely guarding against star players. Student L* explored this issue from a game theory perspective in Eureka's Game Theory project. Using multivariate calculus and simulations, Student L and his Professor found that teams should reduce the appearance of star players during the final stage if performing well in conventional defense. Additionally, teams should only let the star player play 3 out of 10 times at most. Student L's thesis demonstrated impressive reasoning and mathematical foundation, comparable to a university graduation thesis. Their research may have even played a role in their admission to Duke University, known for its strong basketball culture.

*To protect the privacy of some students, names have been hidden.

Eureka Research Title

Confirmation Bias In Investments

Student Experiences

2022 Behavioral Economics Belief-Based Utility - Research Presentation Video

Eureka Student Research: The Effect of Education on Men and Women and Low-Promotability Tasks

Eureka Student Research: The appropriate credit rating for Indonesia in 2023

Community Activities

The MIT Launch X program is an intensive entrepreneurship program for high school students. Participants learn the skills and mindset needed to start a successful startup, including market research, product development, and pitching to investors. The program culminates in a Demo Day where teams present their business ideas to a panel of judges.

Source:

MIT Launch X

The Leadership in the Business World (LBW) program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School is a summer program designed for high school students interested in business and leadership. The program offers students the opportunity to learn from Wharton faculty and industry leaders, participate in team-building exercises, and work on a business project with their peers. The program aims to provide students with a foundation in business principles, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to become effective leaders.

Source:

Wharton Leadership in the Business World

Flume’s contribution has been a tremendous help in the fight against hunger, according to Christina Hanson, POTS’ executive director. The group organized and provided face masks and hand sanitizer to low-income families who needed protective equipment. Flume hopes to continue providing for their community in various ways in the future, including virtual concerts and interactive pieces online. Yoon says he was inspired to